The Israeli Defense Forces have made all the necessary preparations for a major ground offensive in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah and may launch the operation as soon as it receives government approval. According to the Times Of Israel, this was stated by a senior Israeli army official, UNN reports.
Details
Israel considers Rafah to be the last bastion of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and is ready to evacuate Palestinian civilians from there and storm Hamas' fortifications.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government earlier saidthat Israel is "moving forward" with a ground operation, but did not give any time frame.
Meanwhile, numerous Israeli reports indicate that senior Israeli security officials visited Egypt on Wednesday to coordinate the planned offensive on Rafah.
Among them were IDF Chief of Staff Gertzi Halevi and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar. The officials reportedly met with Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and Chief of Staff Osama Askar amid Cairo's fears that the offensive could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe that would force tens of thousands of Gazans to break through the border and enter Egypt.
Recall
The United States demands an immediate ceasefire from Israel and threatens to change its support policy if the humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not improve. Israel has taken steps to help Gaza, but the risk of famine in the enclave remains high, with the northern part of the enclave facing a very high risk of famine, according to US Special Envoy David Satterfield.